Preview: Harrogate Town vs. Tranmere Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Both teams head into this one off the back of respective victories last time out, and they will be looking to pick up where they left off.

Match preview

Harrogate left it late as they secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Accrington Stanley when the teams locked horns at EnviroVent Stadium on Boxing Day.

Jack Nolan had put the visitors ahead in the 57th minute but Jack Muldoon quickly restored parity six minutes later before George Thomson grabbed a late winner in second-half stoppage time.

As a result, the Sulphurites have moved up to 12th place in the League Two table and are now four points away from the last playoff place.

Next in line is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have emerged victorious more times in this fixture than they have.

Having extended their winning streak to three games in their last outing, Friday's hosts now go in search of four consecutive wins in the league and a third successive victory in front of their fans.

The Sulphurites are unbeaten in their last four League Two matches while they have also not lost at home since October 28 against Crewe, recording two wins and two draws since then.

The visitors are also in a rich vein of form coming into this fixture, recording a 5-1 win over Salford City away from home, which is their biggest victory this season.

With five wins in their last eight League Two games and just one defeat in that period, Rovers have looked a different side under Nigel Adkins, who replaced Ian Dawes in September.

Under Adkins, Tranmere have scored in seven of their last eight games after going scoreless in three of their previous seven.

Tranmere's ability to score puts them in a strong position going into Friday's fixture, as they aim to find the net for the eighth match in their last nine.

Having recorded their first away win this season in a commanding manner, Rovers will have high hopes for a positive result this time, after losing nine of their previous 11 encounters on the road.

Harrogate Town League Two form:

D

L

D

W

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W

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):

L

D

L

W

W

W

Tranmere Rovers League Two form:

W

D

W

L

W

W

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Team News

Nineteen-year-old George Horbury remains unavailable for the hosts after picking up a knock against Grimbsy.

Thomson has netted in two of the last three games for Harrogate, making him one to watch in this fixture.

Adkins's men suffered no reported injuries in the victory over Salford, and he could field the same starting lineup from that win.

Kieron Morris is in fine form, having scored in successive matches, and is one to keep an eye on for the visitors.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Belshaw; Foulds, Gibson, Burrell, Ramsay; Dooley, Cornelius; Daly, Odoh, Thomson; Muldoon

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:

McGee; O'Connor, Davies, Turnbull, Wood; Apter, Walker, Hendry, Morris; Jennings, Saunders

We say: Harrogate Town 2-2 Tranmere Rovers

This match promises to be a tight and tense affair, with both sides eager to prove their worth. Harrogate's home advantage could give them a slight edge, but Tranmere's fighting spirit and ability to frustrate could see them snatch a point.

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